Ch. 71..80

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 71-Making a promise “Noah, are you done with your homework?” I call, but I don’t get an answer.

It was Friday afternoon and I was dead tired on my feet. I had forgotten when you’re pregnant how easily you get tired. Every single thing tired me out.

The only thing I’m grateful for is that I never experienced morning sickness unlike when I was pregnant with Noah. 1 “Noah?” I call him again.

I wonder what the hell he is doing. I usually get an answer immediately. Unless something has caught his attention and distracted him.

Before I can carry my tired body to go upstairs to check on him, my doorbell rings.

I release a heavy sigh. It’s not that I didn’t want to see anybody, I just wanted to take a break.

Maybe have a long bath.

I spent the whole day at the Hope Foundation going through tons of documents that needed my attention. My eyes were dry, My mind was burnt out and my body was aching all over.

Dragging myself, I open my door and I am surprised to find Calvin and Gunner at my doorstep. It’s been two days since that day in my backyard.

When Gunner didn’t show up when Noah got back from school, I assumed that maybe Calvin didn’t want anything to do with us. After all, he was really grumpy during our whole encounter.

“Hi” shock was clearly in my voice and I couldn’t hide it.

“Hi Miss Ava” Gunner tells me sweetly with a smile. “These are for you” It’s then that I notice he has a bouquet of flowers. Pink roses to be exact. He hands them to me and I take them gratefully.

“Thank you Gunner. These are beautiful” Without thinking, I bend down and kiss his cheeks.

When I straighten, he gives me a shy smile. Just like with Noah, I could already tell that Gunner was a sweet boy.

I shift my eyes to his father, “Would you like to come in?” He looks hesitant at first, but when Gunner pulls his hand, he agrees.

I lead them straight to the kitchen where I had been baking cookies and cupcakes. Noah had requested for them and though I was tired, I couldn’t refuse him.

“You’re just in time to eat some goodness” I tell them as the oven timer pings.

I look for a vase and place the beautiful flowers Gunner brought me.

“Noah” I call again as I place some cookies in front of our guests.

“I’m coming mommy” he shouts back.

I hear his bedroom door close. Then his footsteps as he runs down the hallway and then the stairs.

Seconds later, he breaks through the kitchen door. He comes to a stop when he sees that we have visitors.

NCH TH “Come, my love. I want you to meet someone” he hesitantly takes a step until he’s standing next to me. W Noah is a bit shy at first glance. That is before you get to know him better. When he sheds his shyness, you won’t even believe that he’s the same boy. He’ll talk your ear off.

“Noah, this here is Gunner. He lives next door and Gunner, this is my son Noah. He’s the one I was telling you about” If I’m being honest, I thought things will be awkward between them at first, but I am wrong.

Gunner smiles “Hi” “Wanna play in my room?” Noah asks at the same time.

“Sure” With that, Noah grabs a bunch of cookies and hands them to Gunner. Then he goes to the pantry and get a couple of juice boxes.

“Come on, I’ve got a new game to show you” Noah says as they walk off.

I was super surprised by his actions. I thought it would take a bit of pushing to get him to warm up to Gunner. I guess I didn’t need to.

“Well that went well. I’m surprised Gunner made the first move. He’s usually really reserved” 2/5 I face him. I had completely forgotten that he was even there.

“Noah is like that too at first. He has to get comfortable with someone first” “Really? Then he’s much better off. When I say that Gunner is reserved I mean, he likes his own company. He doesn’t like making friends or meeting new people. Even in school, he keeps to himself” “Seriously?” I ask shocked.

“Seriously. At this point I think Rex and I are his only friends” I frown at that. I wasn’t a child psychologist but I was a teacher. Even I knew that that wasn’t typical behaviour for a child his age.

For a child to be that withdraw, then there is probably a problem. I know it doesn’t lie with Calvin.

You just have to take one look at them to know they adore each other.

Something else was wrong. If Gunner is as withdrawn as Cal says, then something’s made him.

that way.

“Hopefully Noah can get him out of his shell” I mumble, handing him a cupcake.

I round the island. Taking one of the barstools, I exhale in relief that I was off my feet. I dig into one of the cupcake. My mind completely empty.

“I wanted to apologize” Calvin says after a while.

“For what?” “Coming off as rude the other day.” Waving my hands dismissively, I face him. “In your defence, I was being too extra, so don’t worry about it” Talking about that day reminds me of the pain I saw in his eyes. Right now he has done a good job of trying to hide it.

Others may assume he’s okay, but I can tell he is not. I recognize the struggle in his soul because I usually go through the same thing.

It’s easy for someone who’s been hurt to see the pain others are trying to hide. Especially if it’s the 315 +15 BONUS “So what do you do for a living?” He asks, probably trying to make small talk.

“I’m a teacher, but I’m on leave for the next few months” I had thought about going back, but I decided against it. Even though I was bored being home alone, I knew I needed this time to myself. Not only because of the pregnancy, but also because of my mental state. O “So you got together with Rowan? Noah is his doppelgänger. It’s so uncanny” At that I snort. “Everyone in this damn city knows what happened with Rowan. I didn’t get with him. It was a drunk night gone wrong” I sometimes curse that night when I think of how my life would have been different if it wasn’t for my obsession. Then I remember that if it wasn’t for that night, then I wouldn’t have Noah. In the end I’m left wishing it didn’t happen, but thankful because I got someone precious from it.

“What happened?” Cal asks curiously.

I clump up. Feeling myself start to sweat. “That’s a story for another day. Right now I don’t want to relieve it” I haven’t heard from Rowan since the day he showed up at my appointment which was three days ago.

I also haven’t gotten any surprise visits from Emma demanding I stay away from her man. I think Rowan is probably too busy trying to do damage control with Emma and for that I am grateful.

I didn’t want him around me because when he is, he confuses things. His recent behavior is messing with my head and I’m tired of trying to figure him out.

“What about you? Where’s your wife” he was the same age as Emma so I assume he’s married.

“I don’t have a wife” “Okay…where’s Gunner’s mom?” I see pure undulated pain flash in his eyes. The kind of pain that isn’t yours, but you still feel it all the way to your soul. My heart aches for him, because I know how such pain can be consuming.

“S–she’s not in the picture” he stammers in a broken voice. A voice filled with pain and a bit of anger.

Fuck. I feel the need to comfort him, but I am not sure it will be welcomed.

“I’m so sorry to hear that” I whisper feeling terrible for asking because I drenched up his pain.

I can’t imagine losing a spouse. I can’t imagine living the life you imagined alone knowing the love of your life isn’t there with you. O Calvin looks like the kind of man who loves deeply. If you love deeply then the loss is also just as deep. The loss becomes all consuming.

Now I know where his pain originates from. He wasn’t hurt by someone. He lost someone he deeply loves, 1 He breathes out. Trying to once again bury his pain. “It’s okay. She hasn’t been in the picture for a while and I’m slowly learning to live with it” 2 I grab his hand and squeeze. Giving him the comfort he clearly needs.

Changing the subject into something lighter, I ask him if he would help me plant my garden again since he didn’t send anyone to fix what Rex destroyed.

After talking to him, I realize why Gunner is withdrawn. Losing a parent at such a young age isn’t easy and some children never recover from it.

I didn’t know them well, but right there and then I promise myself that I will be there for them. I was going to help them. 15 We all need happiness and joy in our lives and from the looks of it, Calvin and Gunner haven’t had it in a long time.

 

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 72-Dead love Rowan Today we were having our monthly get together. The Woods and the Sharps have made this a tradition since I was about five years old.

Our families have always been close. Mainly because our mother’s have been best of friends since they were little girls.

It made logical sense that their children would end up being best friends too and that both families would be close.

“Dad, why are you driving so slow? You’re going to make us miss grandpa’s barbecue stake” Noah complains, his brows pulled together in irritation.

If it wasn’t for Noah, I wouldn’t even have gone. I used to love them. Especially when I knew that Ava wasn’t going to be around. When I knew that she wasn’t invited.

I used to think it was the only place I could escape her. That being in a room where everyone except Noah hated her guts was the best place to be.

Now though, it doesn’t fucking feel like that anymore. Instead I hate myself and the rest for the pain we have put her through.

“I’m going as fast as I can“I answer him.

“No, you’re not. You’re driving slower than a ninety year old grandma!” He huffs in annoyance.

Did I just get fried by an eight year old boy? I shake my head and chuckle before increasing the speed just a little bit.

The moment silence reigns in the car, my mind immediately goes to Ava.

She looked fucking radiant when she opened the door for me.

To me she looked like a damn fertility goddess in a white flowing dress, long curled thick hair, her small baby bump and her beautiful flawless skin.

I was shocked by my reaction when I wanted nothing more than to take her in my arms and lock ourselves in her bedroom for hours.

This reaction to her is something that has never happened before and it took me by surprise.

I haven’t been able to think about anything or anyone except for her. She’s stuck on my mind and nothing I do distracts me from thoughts of her.

It fucking scares me how obsessed I am with her. It’s not once or twice that I found myself wondering what she’s up to. Whether she’s eaten or not. Or whether she’s getting enough sleep. I keep wondering if I should hire someone to help her around the house.

Those thoughts shake me to my core. I’ve never been one to take on more when it comes to Ava.

Now, the need to take care of her is almost consuming and it’s wrecking havoc inside me.

“Dad?” Noah calls.

“What?” “We are here” I had not realized that we were already parked outside my parent’s house. I don’t know how we fucking got here. I was so lost in my mind that I had been driving mindlessly.

I know how fucking dangerous that is. Especially when I have Noah in the car with me, but I just can’t help myself. Thoughts of Ava keep consuming me.

“Come on, I’m sure your grandpa has saved some stake for you” I say just so I can push the awkward atmosphere away. 3 “Are you okay dad?” He asks instead of getting out of the car.

I didn’t like that I was worrying him. I also couldn’t tell him my current problem was in the form of his beautiful mother.

“Yes. I just have a lot on my mind, but it’s nothing to worry about” He nods his head and unbuckles his seatbelt. We get out at the same time.

Locking the car, we walk towards the house. The door opens before we can get to it.

“Ma!” Noah shouts before running to her.

“I’ve missed you my Noah” She bends down and catches him as his body collides with hers.

It has always been obvious that Kate and James love Noah despite what happened with Ava Everyone loves Noah, we just didn’t love Ava because of the sin we thought she had committed against me and Emma, “Where’s your mom? I sent her an invite” She asks, straightening and looking behind us.

“Oh, she’s not coming,” Noah informs her. “She went to visit grandma Nora and grandpa Theo. She was excited. We didn’t get to see them last week because they were on a business trip” Noah doesn’t seem to notice, but I do.

I see the moment Kate’s face falls. The moment pain flashes in her eyes. This has to be painful for her knowing that Ava was building a relationship with her biological parents and that no matter what she tries, she will never have a close relationship with Ava.

She had burned her bridges. Hurt Ava too much for her to forgive and accept her. Ava wanted nothing to do with the Sharps or the Woods.

The reason I was even still in her life was because I was Noah’s dad and also because I was being forceful. Otherwise, she would have tossed me in the cold like she has done with the rest.

“Maybe next time then” Kate gives him a sad smile.

She was on the brink of tears. About to lose it. Noah didn’t know the drama that was going on. I couldn’t let him see his grandma breakdown in front of him. He will start to question things and once he finds out the truth of how Ava has been treated, he will blow.

Noah was loyal to his mom above anyone else. If he finds out how cruel we’ve been to Ava, we will instantly be considered his enemies and he will cut us off.

“Let’s go…I’m sure the rest are waiting for us” I walk towards them and gently push them inside the house.

Kate excuses herself and goes to the bathroom while Noah and I move to the backyard.

I internally groan when I realize everyone has shown up. Noah runs ahead leaving me back.

He greets everyone except Emma. He doesn’t even spare her a fucking glance. He doesn’t like her and he isn’t afraid of showing it.

“So glad you’re finally here son” my dad claps me on the back.

He knows it irritates me when he does that, but he still does it.

“Yes” I mumbled already wanting this whole thing to be over and done with.

“You sure sound excited being around family” Gabe says sarcastically.

I glare at him. He doesn’t even flinch. Maybe it’s because he is my twin, but he is the only one who doesn’t cower at my glare.

“Come on, Rowan. Give me a hug” mom says smiling at me. “I’ve missed you” I wrap one hand around her waist and hug her to me. “Missed you too” We separate just as Kate comes back. Her eyes red and face blotchy. 1 Noah was already at the table with a plate chatting with Trevor. 4 He had invited Letty, but she declined. She didn’t want to be around people who hurt Ava.

Her friendship and loyalty to Ava was causing waves in their relationship. Trevor was so fucking afraid of losing her since he was among those that really hurt her friend. The only things that was standing between him and single hood was the fact that he was remorseful. 5 “Can I talk to you, Rowan” Emma’s voice penetrates my ears.

Fuck. I had not noticed her approaching me.

“There really isn’t anything to talk about” I say facing her.uh I have been avoiding her. I was still mad as hell about all the shit she said about Noah. More than that I just didn’t want her around me. Not when all I can think about is Ava.

I had loved the woman in front of me. Cherished her even when I was married to her sister. I was so fucking sure there was no one else for me except Emma.

All I had wished was for her to come back. I had sworn that the moment she did and she accepted to give me a chance, I would divorce Ava and make a life with her. 1 She’s been back for months. Yet I can’t find the love I had for her. The love that I had thought was eternal. The love I had sworn no other woman would have.

I feel like a fool. One minute I’m professing my love for Emma and the next I don’t want her near me. One minute I’m sure I hate Ava with all my heart and the next, I can’t stay away from her. 4/5 Everything about the two sister was doing my head in.

“Rowan..” “What?” I snap feeling suffocated.

I see tears fill her eyes, but for some reason I just don’t give a damn anymore. Not like I used to Without giving her another look, I turn around and walk away.

For a while I played the what if game. What if I could finally have the woman I’ve always loved? What if we got married and started a family? What if everything played out the way it was supposed to years ago?

Those questions rang in my mind for years and the weeks when Emma arrived. I thought that this was our second chance at our love, but I had been wrong. 1 Emma and I were too different right now. We would never work and even if we did get together years ago there is no guarantee that we would have been end game.

She’ll always have a part of my heart as my first love, but it was time to accept the truth. My love novelbin for her is dead. It has probably been dead for years.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 73-Undiluted jealousy My head was swirling with the new revelation. I always thought my love for Emma was eternal. Realizing that it wasn’t, was doing things to my head and heart.

I move quickly and sit down next to Noah. Now more than ever I wanted this whole thing over. I was desperate to get out of here. Already feeling like my skin was crawling.

“What were you talking about with Emma?” Noah asks the moment I sit down.

The disdain in his voice is very clear. No one needed to be told twice that the woman I had planned to spend the rest of my life with was his least favorite person.

This hate is another thing that made me put a pause on my relationship with Emma. How could I date her? How could I be with her when my son clearly hates her? How could I consider a relationship with her when she also doesn’t seem to like Noah?” Based on the things she said about him. It’s clear she resents him for either being Ava’s son or being the reason I had to marry Ava. Maybe it was both.

“Nothing important” I mumbled, feeling lost in thoughts.

We are quiet for a while until he opens his mouth again. The things he spews has be clenching my fists.

“I have a best friend now. Just like you and Uncle Gabe have Uncle Travis as your best friend” he begins.

“That’s good” I was in no mood to chat. My mood was soured. Noah didn’t seem to get the hint though. He kept talking.

“His name is Gunner and he is our new neighbor. They moved in about a week ago” I just nod my head distractedly. It’s not that I wasn’t interested in what he was saying. I just had a lot on my fucking mind. His mother being at the center of everything.

“You know” he pauses “He has a really good looking dad.” He finishes.

That piece of information immediately catches my attention. I turn to him and it’s then I notice his mischievous smile.

“They’ve been to our house and when Gunner and I were playing mom and Mr Calvin were downstairs talking and eating cupcakes. He even promised to help mommy plant her vegetable garden” What the fuck! What the hell was he talking about and who the fuck was this Calvin guy? Why would Ava invite a total stranger in her house knowing very well that the Reapers were still at large?

He continues. Smirking at me triumphantly as if he hadn’t just woken up a raging beast inside me.

“He made her laugh a lot. When Gunner and I came down for dinner, they were standing really close as he helped her set the table.” The more he talked, the more my fury rose. I clenched my teeth just to stop myself from lashing out at my own son. My fucking heart was pounding and I couldn’t calm myself down as waves of anger washed over me. 2 “I was worried about what would happen to mom when you married Emma, but now with Calvin around you can do it. I still don’t like her, but you can marry her and mom can marry Calvin. He makes her laugh and Gunner will be my brother, so that’s a bonus.” 9 I kid you not, Noah gives me an evil grin before delivering the final blow “Maybe Gunner and I can get more siblings, we’ll have to talk to them first but I’m sure they’ll agree” he finishes 3 I reach the end of my limit and blow up. My eyes narrowed into slits at the audacity my son had.

“Noah!” I shout, banging my hand on the fucking picnic table.

Everyone turns to look at us. Confusion in their faces. They were all wondering what the hell was happening. This was the first time I’ve ever fucking yelled at Noah “What?” he ask innocently as if he hadn’t just unleash a raging inferno inside me. 5 Instead of being afraid, he stands up, throws me a cat eating grin and then walks away. Heading towards my mother and Kate.

“What the hell was that about?” Gabe asks, sitting down next to me. A few seconds later, Travis joins us.

I was still fuming. Unable to control the rage that was inside me at knowing there was another 2/4 +15 BONUS No matter what I tried. I couldn’t get the fucking image of Ava laughing while setting at the table with another man. It brought havoc. Tearing at me in a way I didn’t fucking understand.

When I was around her, she rarely smiled. Let alone laugh. If she smiled, it was cold and detached. The fact that someone else was making her laugh was a fucking hard pill to swallow. novelbin “Yeah, what did Noah say to make you so mad?” Travis jumps in looking at me curiously.

“Nothing. Just some stuff about their new neighbor being cozy in Ava’s house and making her laugh” I ground out, fisting my hands.

Travis and Gabe look at each other before laughing. I didn’t care though, because my mind was in turmoil.

The need to punch something or someone was there and it was fucking strong. All I could see is red.

There was this primal part of me that wanted to scream that she was mine. That no other man should dare come close to her.

That part of me took me by surprise because I never considered her as mine. She has always just been Ava. The woman who destroyed my fucking life.

“It’s obvious he’s trying to make you jealous” Gabe states after their laughter dies down. “It’s not a secret that he wants you and Ava back together. He wanted to see your reaction and from how you’ve reacted it just proves to him that you care about Ava and that you care a lot” I glare at my brother. I want to deny what he just said, but I can’t. If I was being honest, then I would admit that I was feeling jealous. Pure, undiluted jealousy.

I want Ava to smile at me. To laugh a lot around me. I want to be the one in her house helping her set the damn table. Heck, I want to be the one to help her plant her vegetable garden.

The intense feeling brings my whole world to a stand still. I am Rowan Woods for fucks sake, yet I don’t mind getting down on my knees, with my hands in the dirt to help Ava plant her garden. As long as I was next to her, as long as I was the only man near her, then nothing else mattered.

I am shocked as those thoughts cross my mind. I never would have imagined wanting anything to do with Ava, but here I was, a completely changed man.

“Do you want Ava back?” Travis looks at me seriously.

His question take me aback, but I don’t have a fucking answer. How do I tell him that I was confused as shit? How do I tell him that I can’t connect or comprehend all these feelings that were running amuck in my heart. That the intense feelings I have for Ava now, confused the living daylights out of me?

It just didn’t make any fucking sense. Why now? Why not all those years back?

The endless questions were giving me a headache. Worst of all, I didn’t have a damn answer to any of them.

I groan then stand up instead of answering. I ignore the questioning looks from my parents, the triumphant look from Noah and the confused look from Kate.

I needed space to breathe. Space to sort out my head and feelings. I thought I would get it inside the house away from everyone, but I was wrong.

Emma was sitting in the living room alone.

When she sees me, she jumps on her feet and approaches me.

“Please, Rowan, talk to me. Tell me how I can fix things” she pleads.

I don’t like hurting her, but that’s exactly what I will be doing if I continue giving her false hope. I don’t want to lead her on. Not when I knew deep down I didn’t feel the same way anymore.

Maybe she also didn’t feel the same. It’s been years. I bet her feelings have changed, but just like how I was before. She’s refusing to let go of the teenage, young love we had.

Running my hand through my hair, I answer. “You can’t fix anything, Emma. I don’t want to hurt you, but it’s time for us to accept that our love ran its course” “Are you telling me you don’t love me? That you love Ava instead?” She asks, shock and heart break written all over her face.

Just like I did with Travis and Gabe, instead of answering I fucking walk away.

As the day bleeds to night, I couldn’t help but ask myself the same thing.

If I wasn’t in love with Emma, does that mean I was in love with my ex–wife?

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 74-Sex toys Ava The weekend was great. Nothing much happened, but I’d enjoyed spending time with mom and dad They were the kind of parents I’d hoped that mother and father would be. Loving, caring and attentive. Instead they had been the complete opposite except when it came to Emma and Travis.

Hell, they even treated Rowan and Gabriel better than they ever treated me even though they claimed that I was their daughter.

The more time I spend with Nora and Theo, the more I grow to love them. The more I accept them as my parents. Being around them made me understand why Ethan adored them. Why he used to speak with so much love when it came to them. They were the best and no one had to be told twice about that.

“Where the hell is she?” Corrine asks in annoyance, breaking my thoughts.

וויי We were at a cafe shop waiting for Letty, who like most of the times, is late. The woman is a secretary, but she has no sense of time.

“She’ll come. She’s probably just running late” I mumble around my blueberry muffin.

My pregnancy cravings have started to kick in and it’s driving me nuts. Right now all I want are muffins and cupcakes. I take them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Most of the food I try to eat end up tasting like sawdust.

“We agreed we should all be here by two” she grumbles, irritation distorting her beautiful face.

I chuckle at how pissed off she seems. “You’ll soon learn that Letty is rarely on time. The quicker you learn that, the better life will be for you” She’s silently fuming and I know why. Corrine isn’t someone that likes to be kept waiting. She’s the punctual type of person. The kind that would rather be an hour early than a second late. 2 As she stews I continue eating my muffin. I’m just so damn hungry all the freaking time.

With Noah I could barely keep anything down. No nausea medicine worked and it wasn’t until I was about six months into my pregnancy that things settled.

That’s why Rowan abandonment hurt me so much. There I was suffering Barely surviving because I couldn’t keep food down and all he was doing the entire time was brooding and mooning over Emma. Not caring that I was losing weight and that my pregnancy was difficult I had to be hospitalized a couple of times because my doctor was concerned about mine and Noah’s health I get he was heartbroken about losing Emma, but come one. Does that take precedence over the health and welfare of your unborn child?

Pushing those thoughts away, I focus on my friend. She was tapping her foot relentlessly.

“What’s wrong? I finally ack when I can’t take it anymore.

“I had a business proposal for you and Letty, but since she’s not here yet, I’ll just have to tell you because it’s driving me insane” she speaks up after a moment.

“Okay..” “It’s going to sound absurd and it’s not really a business people of our social standing would consider The moment she says that, my interest is piqued. That she would suggest that it’s not your normal traditional business has me curious on what idea she has come up with.

“Go on” “I wanted us to open up a sex toy company” she delivers the news with a straight face.

I choke on the sweetness I was eating, not sure I’d heard her correctly.

“Come again?” I stammer “A sex toy company” she repeats. “Think about it. Sex toys have become increasingly popular and I bet you seventy percent of women have it, whether one is single or not. Even men have began embracing it as a way to spice things up in the bedroom*

I stare at her, my mouth hanging wide open.

“What’s got Ava shocked?” Letty asks, joining us.

I didn’t even hear her joining us. That’s how shocked I was.

She takes her seat and moves her gaze from me to Corrine. Trying to figure out what was going on.

“I just told Ava that the three of us should consider starting a sex toy company” Corrine answers I expected Letty to be in the same boat as me. I expected her to be shocked by the idea. She isn’t “That’s a good idea” she screams in excitement. O “Are both of you crazy?” I ask but they don’t seem to be paying me any mind.

“It’s a great idea. I mean, which woman doesn’t have one of those pleasure bringers?” Corrine possesses the same question.

“I don’t” They turn to look. With the way they look at me, you would think I’ve grown a second head or something.

“You don’t have one?” Letty seems surprised by this and I can’t for the life of me understand why.

“No and I’ve never had one” “Well you’re missing out on a lot” Corrine adds.

I mean I once considered them, but my sex life with Rowan wasn’t at a level where I could comfortably introduce them.

For Rowan it was about getting sexual relief and for me, it was about seeking a connection with him that was lacking in other parts of our lives.

“I think we should do this. Like Corrine said, it’s a profitable business. We just have to find away to stand out from all the other sex toy producers” Letty happily says.

“It’s settled then, I’ll draw up the proposal and email them to both of you once I’ve covered everything” Corrine smiles, looking more relaxed.

“Wait a damn minute, I haven’t agreed to this damn idea” Letty speaks, totally ignoring me. “We should do an extensive research, I suggest that since Ava hasn’t had them before she’s the one to buy all the top notch brands and try them. Her input as a total virgin to sex toys will help us evaluate what’s lacking in them and how we can improve and make ours better” Corrine nods her head. Grinning at the idea. I could tell she was feeling really good right now I wasn’t, given I was going to be sort of their lab rat.

“Do I have a say in all these?” I ask in irritation.

“Not really. We’re going to make you lots of money so…” Letty leaves the sentence hanging “You do realize I don’t really need the money. I am loaded” She just shrugs her shoulders before brushing me off. “Doesn’t really matter, besides, weren’t you the one that said you needed something new? A challenge? Well here it is. It will keep you busy without really tiring you out” I think about it for a while before sighing. I mean, how bad can things get, right?

“Fine” I sigh in defeat.

They both squeal in excitement. Hugging me close to them. Squashing the breath out of me.

Seeing them so excited made excitement rise inside me. I haven’t had any in a while, maybe this will bring some life back into my soul.

“Now that we have that out of the way, I have something to ask you, Ava” Letty says as we break from each.

I look at her in question before nodding my head. “Go ahead” “Who is Calvin?” I’m surprised at her question because I haven’t told them anything about Calvin. Besides, after that day I haven’t seen him again. Gunner comes to my house almost everyday, but I haven’t seen his dad.

“He’s my new neighbor. How do you know about him?” “Well, Travis told me about him” she pauses and I frown more confused about how Travis knows about Calvin.

“Apparently at the get together, Noah mentioned him. He actually did more than mention him. He told Rowan that Calvin made you happy and he wouldn’t mind if you and him married and gave him and Calvin’s son more siblings. Travis said that Rowan blew a casket” (2 “Seriously?” Corrine asks with wide eyes.

“Yes. Travis said he was so jealous that he almost broke the table in half at hearing that” Letty added with a grin I laugh. I laugh so hard that my stomach cramps.

I couldn’t believe what she was saying. It all seemed insane that Noah would try to make his father jealous. It was even more crazy that Rowan would be jealous.

Do you know how absurd that is? If there was someone who wouldn’t care whether I fucked the entire male population it would be Rowan.

“That was a joke right?” I ask her after I stop laughing.

It had to be a joke. The only one Rowan has ever been jealous over was Emma. He was not jealous over me and he never will be.

“It isn’t. Travis is even questioning Rowan’s feelings when it comes to you” Letty insists.

“Why is it hard for you to believe that Rowan was jealous?” Corrine asks curiously.

“Because I know him. He would never be jealous. He was probably just angry that Noah keeps trying to push us to get back together.” I tell Corrine before turning to face Letty.

“As for Travis, please assure him that there’s nothing going on. When his sister came back he asked me not to get in the way of Rowan and Emma getting their happy ever after and so far I’ve done exactly that” “I don’t think that’s it. I think he too is probably starting to realize he might have been wrong about you and Rowan. I think it’s starting to sink in that Rowan might have feelings for you” Letty whispers.

I still remember the warning Travis gave me at the hospital after Emma arrived. He was probably worried that I was getting in the way and that his sister wouldn’t get her happy ever after.

“The only feelings Rowan Woods ever had for me is hate. No one can convince me otherwise. What you’re all saying is insane. You can’t hate someone for nine years then all of a sudden develop some positive feelings for them. It’s impossible” “It’s possible if the feelings were already developed inside him but he didn’t know or acknowledge them” Corrine put in.

I shake my head in refusal. I was starting to get annoyed by them.

5/6 “Ava “No Letty, just drop the fucking subject. I don’t want to hear about Rowan okay? Even if he magically developed feelings for me, which I doubt, don’t you think it’s already too late?” Letty doesn’t answer and Corrine looks down at the table. The mood was soured and now I just wanted to go home and forget all about this Rowan nonsense.

Why couldn’t they just let this go? Why were they insisting on something that isn’t there? They were insane if they believe all that bullshit. I knew Rowan and I know he has nothing but resentment for me.

I shake my head to clear my mind. I wasn’t going to dwell on what they said. My focus now was on my children, foundation and this absurd new business we were starting.

Rowan was in the past and he’ll remain there. I don’t see that ever changing.

6/6

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 75-I’m sorry I watch my lawyer nervously as he goes through the business proposal Corrine sent me.

I have to hand it to her. The woman worked fast. It hasn’t even been a day since we discussed the idea and already she had the proposal ready.

It was either that or she had already worked on it beforehand and she was just waiting for Letty and I to agree.

Staring at Rodgers, I wonder what was going on inside his head right now. He has been not only my lawyer but my advisor since I made my first million. I never get into a business without having his input first. So far he is the best and has never been wrong.

All the businesses he told me had the potential to prosper actually did and those he warned me against ended up failing. So as you can see, his input is really important.

“What do you think?” I ask him when I can’t take the nervousness anymore.

His eyes scan the document one more time before he lifts his head.

“It’s a great idea. I can see its potential” he answers.

I’ve worked with the man long enough to know that there was a ‘but‘ in there. With the way he paused, it was clear that he had concerns, but he didn’t know how to let me know.

“What is it?” I prompt, wanting him to speak up before my heart bursts in anxiety.

He stares at me carefully. As if he was trying to gather his thoughts and organize them before speaking.

The more he continued to stare at me without speaking, the more anxious I got.

“Spit it out, Rodger’s” “I just feel like this isn’t really a traditional idea” he finally says.

“I know it’s not” “Plus there is the other aspect.” He pauses before continuing. “Have you thought about how this will affect the foundation aspect of your life” I frown at that. He sees my unhappiness and rushes to correct himself.

“I’m not saying it’s a bad idea. It’s actually really good and has the potential to become a huge company. All I’m saying is that as the founder of Hope foundation you have an image to uphold. Now that people know your identity, they associate you with the kids you help. Most people would probably stop donating if they find out you’re part owner of a sex toy company” My eyes drop to my desk.

Since I had extra rooms in the house, I had decided to turn one of them into a home office given I was going to spend the majority of my time home until after I gave birth.

I stew on it for a while before realizing that what he said is right. I was the face of a children’s organization, so, for me to be in that line of business, it will be viewed as going against what is morally acceptable when dealing with kids.

I sigh in defeat, I was against the idea at first, but I got excited about it later on. It seemed like fun to start such a company with friends.

“You’re right. A lot of the social elites would probably stop donations once word gets out” He nods his head and then we are quiet for a moment.

I was deep in thought. Thinking of how I was going to let Corrine and Letty down easily. I know they would be disappointed but I’m sure they’d understand where I was coming from. After all, that’s what friends do.

“This is a big opportunity and I don’t want you to lose it.” He starts, pulling me from my thoughts.” Would you friends be open to having you as a silent partner?” Slowly, my excitement starts growing. I can see in which direction he is heading towards. In some of the business I helped with capital, I was a silent investor. I had shares and I was consulted in major decision making, but most people didn’t know I was a partner. Usually, only the CEO and the board knew of my identity.

“That could work. I’ll have to talk to them, though I’m sure they won’t have a problem with it.” I tell him, smiling. Feeling my mood lift.

“It’s settled then” he says standing up. “Talk to them and then let me know so I can draft up the required documents” “Okay. And thanks once again Rodger’s for your help” “No problem. After all, you do pay me a hefty amount to make sure I sort out your worries” he says “I’ll see you, Ava” “See you too, Rodger’s” He leaves after that and I immediately pick up my phone. I was going to talk to Letty first, then Corrine.

She picks after the first ring.

““Letty, I’ve got…” she cuts me off before I can finish my sentence.

“I’m really sorry Ava. I’ve wanted to apologize, I just didn’t know where to start” Her voice is so remorseful and so sad. It makes me want to soothe her by taking away what was worrying her.

“What are you talking about, Letty? What are you sorry about?” I stare at the wall opposite me in confusion. As far as I can tell, we haven’t gotten into an argument. She hasn’t done anything that would warrant me forgiving her.

“For pushing. I keep pushing the issue about Rowan not realizing how much it is hurting you. I just want you to be happy and a part of me thinks Rowan is your happiness. You’ve loved him so long that it’s hard to believe that all of it is gone.” “Letty…” She was on a rant so she doesn’t give me a chance to speak.

“I want you to have a chance to be happy. You told me that you used to want Rowan to have feelings for you, but now that it seems he has, you don’t believe it and you’re against it. I just don’t get it” I sigh. This again?

I was getting tired of hearing them speak about Rowan and his so–called feelings. It grated on my mind every time they did. Rowan didn’t factor in my life and neither did his feelings. He could take them and shove them up his stuck up ass for all I cared.

“I’m going to explain it this once and then I never want to hear about this ever again” I breathe before continuing.

“I loved Rowan and a part of me will probably forever will. Sure, you can’t get over that kind of love but it can be slowly killed by actions from the one you love. Rowan hurt me in so many ways that love I had became too painful for me, so in order to preserve the little pieces of myself I had, I buried it so deep that it could never be dug up again” I feel my heart hurt when I speak of the love I had for Rowan. Like I said, it was probably still there, but it was buried under years of his cruelty. The pain he inflicted later became heavier than the love I felt.

He never lifted a hand against me, but sometimes I wish he had. Physical wounds were easier to heal unlike the mental one and those inflicted on the heart and soul.

“Rowan hurt me in a way I would never wish on my worst enemy. Burying that love was the only way I could survive the hurricane that was him.” I hear her sobbing. It hurts me, but I have to make her understand. novelbin “I’m sorry, Ava. I didn’t mean to drench up such painful memories” “I know, Letty and I know you want me to be happy, but Rowan isn’t the key. If we were never happy in the nine years we were married, what makes you think we’ll be happy together now?” Like I keep telling Letty, I doubt Rowan has any feelings for me except hate, and even if he miraculously developed some, too much has already happened for us to move past it.

“I’m really sorry. I promise never to mention it again” I exhale in relief.

K “Thank you, and besides, did you forget I swore off men? Love isn’t for me. Looking at the men I’ve been with, history has taught me I have horrible taste when it comes to them” I chuckle.

She lets out a small laugh. She had a field day the day I announced I was done with men.

“Yeah I remember. I guess the business idea came at the perfect time. Free sex toys for you” this time her laugh is more robust and I’m glad I was able to draw her from the melancholy feelings she had.

“Speaking of which…” I proceed to tell her everything we discussed with the lawyer. Explaining to her why I had to be a silent partner instead. Just like I had predicted, she accepts the idea.

“I completely understand. I see no problem with it and I’m sure that Corrine will understand too” 4/5 +15 BONUS Til speak to her later” “Which reminds me, did you buy from the list we sent you like we asked you too?” She asks after some time.

“I was planning to go after the meeting with my lawyer” “Well you better get your butt up and go… your feedback is very important” she pauses and I hear someone talking to her before she gets back on the phone. “I have to go, there’s an impromptu meeting and I’m needed” “It’s okay. Have a great day and take care” “You too and remember to let me know once you’ve gotten the toys” After that we hung up.

I finish doing my chores, take a shower, get ready then I leave. Heading straight to the mall. It doesn’t take me long to get there.

After parking my car, I head inside. I was a nervous wreck. I was excited but at the same time I felt like I was doing something wrong. Like everyone will judge me and find me lacking by entering a sex toy shop, let alone buying from it. 1 I follow the directions to where Corrine told me her favorite shop is located. I breathe a sigh of relief when I realize that it in a somehow hidden location.

I pause when I get to it. Still unsure of what exactly I had let my friends talk me into. It was as I was seriously debating whether to enter or not, when I heard his unmistakable deep voice.

“Ava?” Ah fuck! What the hell was he doing here?

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 76-Mirror, mirror on the wall… 1 swivel around. Shocked to see Rowan standing behind me.

Could this day get any worse? I ask myself, groaning internally.

“Rowan?” I shriek, caught off guard. “What the hell are you doing here?” Of all the times I had to bump into him, why now when I was standing in front of a sex toy shop?

This had to be the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever experienced.

“I could ask you the same thing?” He says looking behind me.

I feel my cheeks redden, because I know nothing I say will get me out of the situation. I was standing in front of the shop and its windows displayed a variety of sex toys. It was hard to shrug off what kind of store this was.

I look back at the store before facing him nervously. I don’t know why I was nervous, but I was.

“I’m here to shop for maternity clothings and buy some things for the baby,” I lie.

He looks at me. His left eyebrow raised. “In a sex shop? I don’t think you’ll find what you’re looking for here, unless you have other things in mind” The tilt of his mouth lets me know that he was teasing me, which was a completely new concept to me.

Instead of answering him, I start walking in the other direction. I expected him to at least leave me alone, but he doesn’t. Instead he falls in step with me.

“I didn’t take you for a woman who would use sex toys” he says, making me halt in my steps.

What the hell was wrong with him. Why the hell was he even bringing this up? Didn’t he get the memo that I wanted nothing to do with him? That I didn’t want him near me. It was the reason why I walked away in the first place.

“First of all, you don’t know the type of woman I am. You never did, mainly because you thought I was beneath you or something and second of all, what’s wrong with using dildos and vibrators to pleasure myself? I am a human being with needs, and they have to be fulfilled one way or another.

Now leave me the hell alone” 1 see an inferno light up in his eyes, but I don’t dwell on it. Not giving him a chance to speak, I start walking again. This time I quicken my steps.

The man infuriated me and at times like this, I want nothing more than to slap the daylights out gets worse when I remember all the shit he put me through, all because he was ‘in love‘ with Emma. Note the sarcasm.

of him I was now fuming. I would like to blame the pregnancy hormones, but I couldn’t put all the blame on them.

“Ava?” “What?“stopping, I snap, now realizing that he was striding next to me.

He was looking at me with his head tipped to the side. Almost like I was a puzzle he was trying to figure out.

“Here’s a mom and baby shop” he says pointing at the store that was a few feet from us.

I know I had lied about why I was here, but seeing the store made me realize that I was indeed in need of maternity clothes. Plus I had yet to buy anything for the baby.

I stomp my feet grudgingly as I walk toward the store. I stop just as I cross the threshold and put my arms out.

“What the hell are you doing?” I ask him when I realize that he was about to walk inside with me.

“Isn’t it obvious? I am here to help you shop” “I didn’t ask nor do I need your help, so turn your ass around and go back to where you came from” I had reached my limit with him being so pushy about things that no longer concerned him.

Where was he when I needed him? Now that I don’t, he thinks he can force himself in my life? It’s not going to happen. 2 Instead of backing off, he gets into my face,so much so that there is barely any space between us.

“I’m staying and I’m going to watch as you try every fucking piece of cloth, Ava. You better get it inside your head because I’m not leaving until you buy what you need” My mouth falls open at his audacity. How dare he? Who the hell did he think he was? He wasn’t even the baby’s father for fucks sake!

Before i can get a chance to give him a piece of my mind, someone interrupts our stare down. You could literally cut the tension with a damn knife “Hi, how can I help you two?” the sweet voice says behind us “My wife is looking for some clothes for herself and the baby Rowan answers before I can, leaving me completely shocked on What the actual hell? Wife! I wasn’t his fucking wife anymore. Why the hell would he tell her that? I swear Rowan has completely lost it. He has gone ahead and joined the loony train. That was the only explanation why he was behaving in such a way. 2 The store attendant smiles and motions for us. “Follow me. My name is Wendy and we’ve just received beautiful exclusive pieces that I’m sure your wife will like” Before I can correct her for her mistake. Rowan grabs my hand and gently drags me into the store. Following behind Wendy like a damn puppy.

She sits us on one of the sofas then leaves. I turn and glare at Rowan. Completely pissed off.

“What the hell was that back there? I fume, feeling my anger reach dangerous peaks.

He looks at me lazily, before casually answering me with another question.

“What was what?

“Don’t play dumb with me! Why the hell did you call me your wife, have you forgotten we’re divorced? Or that you’re now dating Emma?” “Here are the pieces” Wendy says walking towards us with a stack of clothes.

What was with her and interrupting me. I was now mad at the poor soul because Rowan had pissed me off. (2)

“How about we start with this one?” She asks, holding a beautiful maxi dress up for me.

If it wasn’t for the fact that I was seething, I would have appreciated how beautiful the dress actually was.

“Go, try it on” Rowan says seemingly unaffected by the suffocating tension in the room.

Grabbing the dress, I stomp to the direction of the changing rooms. He had another thing coming novelbin if he thought that I was going to model for him. He could rot in hell for all I cared.

Taking out my clothes, I put on the dress. The moment I look at myself in the mirror, all my anger just sort of fades away. 1 looked damn beautiful. The dress did wonders for my figure and my growing baby bump I immediately decide to take it.

After that I call Wendy. She hands me the next piece of cloth. It was a sundress and looked really nice. Just like with the maxi dress, this one also looked really good on me. I loved their exclusive pieces. They were gorgeous and just perfect for expectant mothers.

It was as I was about to try on a pair of jeans, that the door opened. His presence immediately alerted me that it wasn’t Wendy in the room with me.

I stood frozen, my eyes connecting with his through the mirror. He was holding a blue top while I stood in nothing but my bra and panties.

“What the hell, Rowan!” I whisper–yelled turning to face him while trying to hide my ass and bulging boob which literally spilled out of my bra.

Which reminded me, I needed maternity bras too.

He doesn’t say anything. His eyes slowly peruse my body. It almost felt like a gentle caress and it made me uncomfortable.

Taking one of the long dresses, I use it as some sort of shield. Hiding my partial nakedness.

He drops the top and starts to move towards me as if he was in a sort of trance. 2 Before I have the chance to do anything, he cages me between his body and the mirror. My breath starts coming out rapidly as I start to panic. I never thought that I would find myself in such a position with Rowan.

He lifts his hand. His finger caressing my lips, my neck before falling on my cleavage.

“They’re bigger than I remember” he says gruffly, his voice filled with something I don’t want to acknowledge. 1 “Step away Rowan,” I murmur.

Instead of doing what I asked, his hand continues its descent downward. He pushes the dress aside and places his hand on my baby bump.

My breath still and his picks up.

His eyes stare at mine, and that’s when I see it. I wanted to be wrong. I thought I was wrong, but I 4/5 never saw directed at me. I saw nothing but burning desire.

’m completely frozen by what I’ve seen. Unable to believe it. Unable to understand it. I remain frozen in shock as his head descends.

Before he can get too close, I push him away. Unable to take in what was happening or the desire that had coated the room.

My shove seems to have woken him up from his trance. He shakes his head as if trying to get rid of the fog. I was breathing hard, confused as fuck about what had happened.

“Ava” he says almost on a plea.

“Not another fucking word” I snarl at him.

I quickly put my clothes on before fleeing the room. I really loved the clothes, but I will be damned if I had to spend another minute in Rowan’s presence.

Within minutes, I’m outside the mall. Getting into my car, I drive off. My mind was a mess as I tried to figure out what the hell was wrong with Rowan and why the hell he did what he did.

Rowan has never looked at me with desire, so why the hell did it look like he wanted nothing more than to take me against that mirror? 3

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 77-Bane of my existence. Rowan Fuck!! watch as Ava flees from the shop. I want to follow her, but I know that I’ve messed up big time.

I saw the panic in her eyes, but it was like I was in a trance. My mind shut down completely when I saw her almost naked body.

I didn’t realize that I had moved or that I had cornered her. It wasn’t until she pushed me away that I realized what I was about to do.

She was my wife for fucks sake, but she has never affected me on this level. I’ve seen her naked countless times yet this time it was different. I couldn’t fucking explain it, but it was. It was like I was seeing her for the first time.

Our sex life was good, but I had always held back. I still loved Emma back then and every time I sough intimacy from Ava, I felt like I was betraying Emma. 5 It was the hardest at the beginning of our marriage. I drowned in guilt each time I touched Ava.

Always drinking myself stupid after we were done. After, I learnt to ignore the guilt. Learned to push it back so my body can get what it needs. (2 Even though I didn’t love, Ava, I couldn’t cheat. After watching my parents, I took marriage and my vows seriously. I had countless of opportunities, but I couldn’t have tr to do it even if I run my hand through my hair. Grabbing the strands in frustration. The intensity at which I’d wanted Ava a few minutes ago almost brought me to my knees.

I couldn’t get the image of her sexy little body out of my fucking mind. Or the image I had of moving her panties to the side and sinking inside her warm heat.

I hadn’t even seen her whole body yet I was fucking hard. Harder than I’ve ever been my entire fucking life. The whole thing just confused me and scared the crap out of me.

Cursing again, I leave the room. The need to escape filling my bones. I was not only trying to escape the memories, but also the need that had taken every inch of my body. 1 I usually don’t shop in malls. I have everything custom made by an exclusive designer. Mom had I never expected to see Ava. I saw her just as I was about to pull off the parking lot. She looked nervous and shifty, so I decided to follow her, because I was curious on what would make her that nervous.

Part of me wishes I hadn’t because now I’m fucking sure she’ll want to distance herself even more.

Getting into my car, I drive off. Heading towards my parent’s house.

I was wound up so tight that it was barely hard to breathe. Everything inside me was coiled and I still couldn’t get the damn image of Ava out of my mind.

I get to the house in record time. Picking up the toy, I head on inside. I was going to hand it over, then I was going to my club to get myself a fucking drink. novelbin “You’re finally here, did you get it?” mom asks looking up from the sofa she was sitting on.

I just nod my head. Gritting my molars against the frustration I was currently feeling.

As always, a mother knows when something is right. When her child is struggling.

“Is something wrong?” she asks frowning.

I’m not a heart to heart man but for a fucking moment I think of talking to her. I stop myself though because how can I?

How can I tell her that the woman we’ve spent almost a decade hating, now has me all tied up in knots? That she’s all I think about almost every second of the day.

How can I tell her that if Ava hadn’t pushed me away, I would have probably fucked her in the changing room? That it wouldn’t have been enough and I would have taken her back to my home and started all over again?

“Is this about the article?” her question pulls me from my daydreaming.

“What article?” She straightens and picks her phone from the table. She scrolls through it, taps on something and then hands it to me. I take a seat as I look at the article that was published about an hour ago.

[Rowan Wood caught on camera with ex–wife Ava Sharp while entering a mom and baby shop.

Could the divorced couple be expecting their second child? Stay tuned as we gather more information on whether Ava is truly pregnant and if she is, when it happened given they’ve been 215 I curse. My hands folding into fists.

From what I know, only four people knew that Ava was pregnant. She was going to lose it when she finds out about the article.

I place mom’s phone down and take my own. Dialing the number of my one of my contacts in the entertainment industry. I wait for her to pick up.

“Sir?” she picks up on the first ring.

“There is a new article about me and Ava circulating, I want it taken down” I growl, fueled by anger.

“I see it, give me ten minutes” “Also let it be known that if anyone is caught writing articles about Ava’s private life, they’ll face bankruptcy” “Yes sir” I cut of the phone, still fuming.

Ava has always been a private person. I was going to protect her privacy at all coast. It doesn’t matter what it takes.

“What’s going on between you and Ava, Ro?” mom asks after her while. Her gaze piercing mine as if she was trying to find the answers by staring deep into my soul.

I was glad she didn’t ask if the pregnancy rumor was true. That wasn’t my secret to tell and I wouldn’t even have told her.

“I don’t know” I answer her in frustration.

“Kate tells me that you’ve been distant with Emma. Emma told her that you broke things off and won’t even talk to her. Is this because of Ava?” I think of lying to her, but what would be the use?

“Partly” I hear her sharp intake of air. I don’t look at her. Afraid of what I’ll see in her eyes.

“Did you know that Ava wasn’t Kate and James‘ daughter?” I ask when she doesn’t say anything for a long time.

“Yes” “Is that the reason you hated her?” “No” she says, surprising me. “I hated her because she took your happiness away. She took your light away. You loved Emma so much and because of her obsession, you lost her. You don’t know how painful it was for me to watch my son living like a zombie. It was like when you lost Emma you died, Rowan. We didn’t get you back until Noah was born and even then, you didn’t come back to us fully” U I shake my head. I don’t want to remember how I was drowning back then. I was basically a dead man living. It was the worst period of my fucking life.

“You hated her back then, but I see that has changed. I spent almost thirty minutes looking at the pictures of you two standing outside that store. You stared at her in awe. You looked at her like she was your world. You looked at her like you were in love with her” I face my mother. Staring at her in shock. She had to be wrong some 3 “Gabe found out she didn’t lie when she said she was drunk. He was able to get the footages of that night” I whisper, trying to change the subject.

It still sits heavily in my heart knowing what I did to Ava. All the fucking pain I caused her. She took it all until she couldn’t anymore. Until she finally had enough and kicked us out of her life.

“Then I need to apologize to her for my part in shunning and hating her” her tone is somber and I know it’s already killing her to know she had been wrong about Ava too.

We’re quiet for a moment. Each of us lost in our own thoughts. That’s until she speaks up.

“You have to tell her Rowan. You have to tell Ava you love her. Nine years have already been wasted. Nine years where you would have been happy with her. You have to tell her before it’s too late” 2 “But how can I tell her?” I run my hand down my face. “How can I tell her when I’m not even sure what I feel? She has me in knots and I don’t really know what it is I feel towards her. It’s all so fucking confusing” And that is the bane of my existence. The fact that I don’t know how to describe what I feel for “Language!” she admonishes before sighing. “I think you spent so much time hating and resenting her that those ugly feelings are now fighting against the feelings that are coming up and the developing ches. That is why you’re confused. Because you are trying to reset feelings that have been dominant for years” She continues. “Just take your time and don’t rush it. As for Ava, I saw how she looked at you. The love she once had is either gone or buried deep inside. My advice, don’t push her too much or she’ll snap and completely cut you off” I nod my head as I accept her advice. After spending a few more minutes with her, I leave.

I was more relaxed than I had been when I arrived, but the tension was still there.

It was as I was driving to my office that I accepted the truth.

I did have feelings for Ava. Strong ones at that. I just didn’t know how deep they went, or what exactly they were. It was time I find that out.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 78-We’ll always love you Ava The moment I saw my parents on my doorstep I knew that they had seen the damn article.

Letty had sent me the link a few minutes after I got home. It pissed me off more than I already was. I hadn’t been ready to let others know and the damn paparazzi had blasted it on the entire internet.

I wasn’t even worried about the others reaction. My worry was solely on mom and dad’s reaction. I just haven’t found a way to tell them that I was pregnant. The entire thing was even more complicated since Ethan was still not talking to them.

The article had disappeared a few minutes before my parents arrived. I had a strong suspicion that Rowan had something to do with it.

Just his name brought anger like no other. I shake the thoughts of what happened in the changing room and focus on my parents who were staring at me questioningly.

“You saw the article didn’t you?” I ask the obvious.

The house was quiet. Mainly because Noah wasn’t back from school yet.

“Yes” dad responds, his eyes piercing mine.

“I know we haven’t had a lot of time with you, Ava, but why didn’t you tell us?” Mom whispers in a small voice. “A baby is a blessing and I thought we were past the point where you feel you can’t talk to us” I feel how hurt she is. It hurts me to know that I’ve hurt them. They’ve been nothing but amazing to me. The kind of parents I’ve always wanted. Always wished for. How do I explain to them that I wanted to, I just didn’t know how to get it out?

“You have to believe that I wanted to tell you so many times, I just didn’t know how to?” I whisper back. My eyes on my shaky hands.

“Why would you have a hard time telling us?” dad brows frown in confusion. He was trying to figure out my reasons but none seemed to be making sense.

“Because of who the father is” I hear mom’s sharp intake of air. “You mean Rowan isn’t the father?

Why does everyone think Rowan is the one that got me pregnant? We were divorced for fucks sake.

I nod my head, still looking down. I didn’t know it back then but fact remains that I slept with my adopted brother. I am sure Ethan never told them those specific details, which makes telling them all the more difficult. It is even more messed up that Ethan knew the whole damn time and yet he still went ahead and slept with me.

“You have to know that we will never judge you Ava. Whoever the father is, it doesn’t matter” mom adds when she sees I’m still hesitant.

“Even if the father of my baby is Ethan?” I choke out.

It still felt like a damn sin. Ethan and I weren’t related, but he was their son in every way.

The silence that descends is heavy. They both look at me in complete shock. Their mouths open and close wordlessly. As if they can’t form any word.

Damn it. I knew this was a bad idea. What if they hate me? What if they hate Ethan? I let out a long sigh. I also couldn’t keep it a secret from the forever.

“E–Ethan is the fa–father?” mom stammers, tears filling her eyes.

“Yes. I didn’t know that he was my adopted brother when I started a relationship with him.” “But he knew!” dad booms, standing up angrily. He was fuming. It was easily written all over his face. “Is this why he doesn’t want to see us? I didn’t think he had gone this far. That he fucking seduced you knowing very well you’re our daughter” I’m surprised. I have never ever heard dad curse.

“He didn’t seduce me. I jumped into the relationship willingly” I tell dad, feeling my cheeks turning pink for some reason.

Sure, I wouldn’t have gotten into a relationship with him had I known the truth, but he didn’t seduce me. Everything that happened between us was consented. 4 “He tricked you Ava.” Mom sighs. “Your dad is right. Ethan knew the truth, but you didn’t. He basically seduced you knowing very well he’s your adopted brother. That was wrong of him.

Really wrong” “I know and I’m disgusted when I think about it. He won’t stay in prison forever and I did give him 2/17 explain that their father is your son? Adopted or not. Fihan is still your au This has been one of my biggest worry I don’t want my child to vise me in a negative way come tell them the truth, but that would mean making his or her dad seem like a fucking sickne Mom stands up and comes to sit next to me. She pulls me into her arms and huge me close Heel my eyes start to fill with tears Damn hormones a “It’s okay baby, don’t worry about it. We still love you and we will love the baby” Dad adds, joining US We stay in each other’s embrace for a while before separating “Another grandbaby. This is so awesome. I better start shopping” mom says excitedly, her face transforming with the smile that takes over.

She was literally jumping up and down like a school girl.

“How many people can brag that they’re grandmas at forty three? I am a young and chick grandmother and I still energetic enough to run around with my grandkids” Dad and I laugh in amusement as mom twirls around in my living room like a ballerina Standing up, dad pulls her into his arms and kisses her. He then spins her as mom laughs in joy I smile at them. This is the kind of marriage I’d wanted. The kind of love I’d craved for. I feel a pang in my heart, but I don’t let it bother me. I’d already let go of those fantasies. I’d accepted that their kind of love wasn’t in the cards for me.

After that, they stay a little before they leave. I felt like a burden had been lifted from my shoulders. My biggest fear had been that they would reject my child. Seeing how in the end they were excited to have an additional grandchild eased something inside me.

Soon Noah arrives and I get busy helping him with homework and making him snacks. I like being organized, so I sort his uniform for the next day and everything he would need.

I had just finished when there was a knock on my door. Dragging my feet, I leave Noah’s room and go to open the door.

“Ava Sharp?” the delivery man asks.

Damn it I need to change my last name. The Sharp’s name no longer belonged to me.

Yes “I have a delivery for you I roll my eyes. I don’t get why they always have to say that. I mean, I already can tell you’re here to deliver something. It’s obvious.

“I didn’t order anything” I tell him.

“Not my problem Rude. Maybe he saw me rolling my eyes at him. Before I can say anything, he shoves the box into my hand and walks away.

I watch his back in shock. Memorizing the name of the company he worked for. I didn’t order anything, but I sure was going to give them a one star rating and a scathing review.

Taking the box inside the house, I close the door and head to the living room.

“What’s that?” Noah asks, eyeing the package.

“I don’t know” I debate whether I should open it or not. There is still danger looming around from the reapers. What if it was a bomb or something?

I don’t get a chance to debate too much on it because Noah jumps up, takes the box and tears it open.

“Noah!” I shout. My heart in my throat.

If it had been a bomb we would have been blown into pieces. Didn’t he have a sense of safety?

“You do not open packages that you don’t know anything about!” I snap at him, trying to calm my erratic beating heart.

He just shrugs his shoulder. “I was curious, so I opened it” He looks inside and his face turns into distaste. “I thought there would be something cool, but it’s nothing but a bunch of dresses” Wait what?

I take the box from him and check inside. I remove each one of the piece of clothes. Slowly realizing that each piece is one from the mom and baby shop. They were all the clothes I had tried and liked. The ones that I’d wanted to buy before shit happened with Rowan.

How the hell… I stop the thought as realization sinks in. Rowan. The bastard must have bought them.

“They’re really nice dresses mommy. You’ll look beautiful in them” Noah says, just as the thought of burning them crosses my mind.

“Thank you, my love” I force a smile on my face. “I’m going to prepare dinner. Finish up so you can take a shower” Leaving the box of clothes, I head to the kitchen. I still wasn’t sure what to do about the clothes. I didn’t want anything from Rowan. If we’re being honest, this is the first I’ve ever gotten from the man.

Thinking of the clothes made me think of the scene at the changing room. I still don’t know what the hell had gotten into him. Something just wasn’t right. He was behaving so unlike himself.

I hated the desire I saw in his eyes. I hated that I felt his hardened dick pressing against my stomach. Rowan has never found me attractive. Never looked at me like he wanted to eat me up, so what the hell has changed.

“Ava” I swivel around at his voice. Staring at him in shock as he stood at the door to the kitchen.

“What are you doing here and how the hell did you get in?” I ask, feeling my early anger start rising up.

“Noah let me in” he answers stepping forward.

I didn’t want him in my house. I didn’t want him in my life. He can’t treat me like trash for nine years then all of a sudden have a change of heart. It doesn’t fucking work like that.

“Get out!” I snap in anger.

“Ava” “Get out of my fucking house, Rowan” 2 I try to hold it back, but the shit he put me through comes barreling back up. I don’t see him now.

“Listen to me, Ava” “Like you listened every time I told you I was drunk and you didn’t believe me? Or every time I begged you to give us a chance, but you wouldn’t listen. Wouldn’t give me the time of day!” I take a deep breath trying to calm down.

“I’ve heard enough from you to last me a life time. I left you like you’ve always fucking wanted, why can’t you do the same for me? Haven’t I already paid enough for loving you! What more do you want from me?” Tears threaten to fall, but I hold them back. I won’t let him see me lose it.

“You’ve always thrown your love for Emma in my face. She’s here Rowan. You can have the love of your fucking life and leave me the hell alone. Don’t come to my appointments, don’t take me shopping, and don’t buy me clothes. Just ignore me like you always have” I finish and collapse against the kitchen counter. 2 I see something flash in his eyes. Pain, regret, sorrow? I don’t know and right now I don’t care.

“Are you too fighting?” Noah asks, his voice cutting through the tense atmosphere.

His eyes are hard. His mouth compressed in a thin line.

“No we’re not” I sigh tiredly. “Your father was just leaving” I glare at Rowan. Giving him the silent command to leave. Hopefully he will never step foot into my house again.

Noah nods and leaves. Rowan turns to leave, but then stops.

“I’m sorry Ava. So fucking sorry” his tone is hard. Almost like he was fighting his emotions.

“Just leave Rowan and take the clothes you bought with you” “No” I resist the urge to stomp my foot at his stubbornness and throw a pan at his head.

“Fine! I’ll just give them away to charity” “Do as you wish Ava. They are your clothes” with that he walks out of the kitchen.

i hear murmurs and then a while ister 1 hear the front door open and close. I breathe a sigh of relief now that Rowan’s suffocating presence was gone.

As I make dinner, I harden my heart. Builiding fotress walls around it. I don’t know what game Rowan was playing, but I’ll be damned before I allow my heart to get involved with him again.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 79-Kidnapped again Today I wasn’t in the best of moods. Mainly because Noah was still mad at me for kicking Rowan out I thought I had covered things up well. It turns out that he could see past my bullshit.

At times like this, I wish that we hadn’t pretended in front of Noah. I know that we thought we were protecting him. That we were giving him a happy childhood. All we did was deceive him.

Now he has it in his head that we were once in love and that we can be again.

I don’t know how to tell him the truth without breaking his little heart. I don’t know how to tell him that everything he believes about me and Rowan is a lie.

My biggest fear is that he’ll hate us for lying to him if the truth comes out. Then again we can’t continue like this. We can’t continue with him believing that there is a chance for me and Rowan.

I sigh and get out of bed. I had gone back to sleep after Noah left for school. As the days progress, novelbin the bigger I get and the more tired I feel.

Dragging my feet, I head to the bathroom and take a shower. It still doesn’t take away the fatigue from my bones. Deciding on a dress, I put on a white spaghetti strap dress with blue flowers on it.

It reached just above my knees and showed my belly. Since my parents now knew the truth about my pregnancy, it was time to stop hiding it.

Not in the mood to do my makeup, I opt for just concealer to cover up my dark under eyes.

I leave my room and get downstairs just as my doorbell rings.

I was really not in the mood to see or talk to anyone. Not when I was feeling like shit.

I open my front door and wish that I hadn’t. Travis was standing on my door step looking disheveled. (1 I go to close the door, but he stops it before I can slam it on his face.

“Please Ava” he begs tiredly.

“What do you want?” I ask, my voice cold even to my own ears.

It was really funny how much my voice automatically changes nowadays. I don’t even put any effort in it. It just grows cold and unattached. As if I was speaking to a total stranger.

“Can I come in?” he asks.

“Fuck No! Speak what you came here to say and leave” I would be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about why he was here. The last time I saw Travis was when mother revealed the truth about how I came to be a Sharp.

I see him hesitate and my curiosity gets stronger. Travis has always been arrogant and assured. To see him this nervous in front of me was intriguing.

“Get it out already! I don’t have all day” I snap after a few minutes of him being quiet.

I was starting to question why I even gave him a chance to speak. I should have called the police on his sorry ass.

“I was wondering if you could talk to Nora and Theo” he finally speaks, but it was so low I had to straining to hear him.

“About what?” “Sharp Corp. They’ve gone after us. Making almost all investors who are in their contact to drop our company” he says brokenly. “The company is sinking, Ava. We are losing investors, customers and funds” (2 I sigh. If I were being honest, I thought mom and dad’s threat was just that, a threat. I didn’t really think that they would actually go after the Sharps for what they did to me.

If there is anything that Travis loves more than anything, it’s that company. It was and is his pride.

and joy. To have him here, basically begging me to help him means he has reached the end of the road. It means he has tried everything and talking to me is the last and only resort.

“You have to know I don’t really care if that company sinks or not” I state, folding my hands across my ches He looked tired and worn out. Like he has been burning both ends of the candle.

Letty hasn’t mentioned anything about this to me. Then again, I told her never to speak about Travis in my presence.

“Please, Ava. I beg you. We’re family” Hearing that word has my hackles up. Bringing the familiar angry burn.

“Family?” I scoff. “How are we family, Travis? If I remember correctly you cut me off. You said I was dead to you and renounced me as your sister years ago. Then you went and proved just how 214 “Ava.*

I cut him off. I don’t want to hear a thing from his damn mouth.

“Every time you took Emma’s side, every time you treated me like trash. Every fucking time you.

laughed when Rowan tore my heart to pieces because I hurt you precious sister, did you consider me you family? What about the times you said I deserved the pain I was going through? Or when father and mother ignored me like I didn’t matter? What about all the time you all shunned me?

Was I still your family?

He doesn’t say anything. But what is there to say anyway? He knows the truth. He didn’t consider me family back then. To him and the rest I was nothing but an unwanted nuisance. One they would do anything to get rid of.

“So tell me, if you didn’t consider me your family back then, what makes you think I’ll consider you my family now? Whatever you are trying to do by playing the family card with me won’t work” My eyes pierce his. I used to note the difference between us. Travis and Emma didn’t look alike, but by just seeing them you could guess that they’re related. I on the other hand looked nothing like any of them. That should have been the first clue that I wasn’t one of them.

“Let’s be honest, you’ve never cared about me. The only reason you’re here is because you think you can use me, but I won’t let you. Go home, Travis and don’t ever darken my doorstep again.” With that, I push him away and slam the door hard. I lean against it breathing hard. Its quiet for a few minutes before I hear his car start up and speed off.

Feeling the need to escape the house, I take my car keys. I was just leaving when I notice the clothes Rowan bought. I take them. Planning to pass by a shelter to give them away.

Within minutes, I’m on the road. My mind was all over the place. First with Rowan and now Travis.

The audacity they had to think that they could just walk into my life and demand things. The thought that everything can be easily forgotten was completely delusional.

If Rowan wasn’t Noah’s dad, I would have demanded he stay out of my life completely. Everything that I do. I do with Noah’s interest at heart. I’ve been tempted so many times to take Noah far away, but the love he has for his father stops me every time. 3 I’ve wanted to move far away from here, but I know that the move will hurt Noah. Rowan thinks Noah loves me more. He just doesn’t realize that he loves him just as much.

Sporting an ice cream shop, I decide to stop. The front was packed so I park at the back instead.

A little comfort is what I need right now. I’ll eat some ice cream while I try to clear my head.

I get into the dainty and cozy shop and order myself a big bowl of ice cream. I usually can eat any flavor of ice cream, just as long as it’s ice cream, but on the days I’m feeling down and need comfort, I go for plain vanilla.

My mind wonders to Travis. I’m not sure about how my parents are going about everything. I’m not the revenge type of person. I usually just let karma do her thing because the way she fucks people up is on another level.

I’m on the fence about the revenge thing. Part of me wants to see them crash and burn. The other part just wants to let everything go and just forget they exist. Does it make me evil that the bigger part wants to see them in pain? That it wants to see them suffer?

I finish my ice cream and leave still as conflicted as I was when I entered the place. Maybe talking to someone will give me some clarity.

Deciding to go see my therapist I head towards my car. I don’t get near it though because someone grabs me and covers my mouth and nose before I can scream. Within seconds, everything disappears and I fall into darkness.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 80-Meeting Reaper. “Wake up!” I groan, but I don’t open my eyes. The voice sounded so far away and I thought that I was dreaming because how else would the voice sound so familiar?

“Ava, wake the fuck up!” This time I open my eyes. The voice sounded too real to be a dream. Also, why the hell would I dream of her?

My vision is blurry as my eyes try to adjust.

As the seconds go by, the memories of earlier come back to me.

Shit! I’ve been kidnapped again.

My brain was still fuzzy from what I assume is the chloroform I inhaled. I take a quick note of things, hoping that the chemical won’t affect my baby.

I was seated on a chair with my hands tied behind my back. Trying to moves proves to be a moot point. The ropes were tight and they cut into my skin. Whoever took me probably didn’t want to risk me escaping.

“Are you done?” she asks.

I thought it was just my imagination, but it’s not. I sharply turn to my left to find Emma also tied to a chair. She looked more alert meaning she was here longer than I was.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask her dumbly.

I survey the area. It was one big room with absolutely nothing. No chair or furniture except the one Emma and I were sitting on. There was nothing to give a clue of where we were or who this house belonged to.

“Isn’t it obvious? We were both kidnapped” she answers sarcastically.

I roll my eyes at her. “Of course I know that! What I meant to ask is why whoever it is would take both of us” I don’t know who took us, but I have my suspicions. The only threat that was remaining was from 1/5 +15 BONUS Emma was more important to the Sharps and Rowan than I was.

“I don’t know” “How long have you been here?” I tried calming my breaths. It wouldn’t do me anything good to panic The more I try the more I’m taken back to the night Ethan betrayed me. Didn’t things happen almost in the exact same way? With the difference being Letty was the one kidnapped alongside me instead of Emma.

Fear grips me as I think of that day. Fear that the same thing would happen again. That I was about to find out that someone close to me had betrayed me again.

“I’m not sure. I gained consciousness just as they carried you in” Emma’s voice pulls me back from the painful memories.

“And how long have I been out?” “Maybe fifteen or twenty minutes or so” I’m quiet after that. Trying to do the math. It doesn’t help though. Because I’m not sure how far out they drove from the ice cream shop.

I start to panic again when I think of Noah. Oh my god, who was going to pick him up? School ends at three thirty and when I got to the ice cream shop it was already around noon. What if they decided to take him too? 1 ‘Calm down‘. I tell myself. ‘You know the school will call Rowan if you’re unable to pick him up.

He’ll be safe‘ I keep telling myself that until I calm down and my breathing stops being so erratic. Noah is going to be fine. Right now I just needed to concentrate on myself.

“So it is true, you’re pregnant” Emma speaks, making me turn to her. She was looking at my baby bump.

Even when she was being held hostage, she still looked damn beautiful. How the hell is that even possible? Maybe she was a goddess in her previous life or something.

Instead of answering I ignore her and face forward. My pregnancy was none of her fucking business.

2/5 A that youve avregrann Math w track recent men De L nating the fuck ar The great my legs to so many men can barely teen cam 31 fhagen to short De been casus to less than an hour and abreathy was tempted to ask ar me Emma was so fucking annoying. Why the hell the lever notice that about her?

Tu fakt have to be so rule she frowns at me as if that’s game to fit anymo Sher fan’t have to gen yon mouth and talk can you ust shut the fuck up 2 saatmue to struggle on my chan Bromo to Inosen the ropes. There was no way was pumpin stay here with her the entire time Something unly was hunt ir hanner between us There is nothing like a good catfight between women Should you so you can settle whatever score you have agams each other man says as he walks warts 15 It been so amed with Emma that didn’t sale that the tinn hat bean mened cuse myser menally in that joobshness Sue, why dont you unde me and when I’m inne with her. I’ll be coming in you TEXT i serine lering my anger show a The guy just laughs. Of course he finds funny was a man compared to me. To him, fighting me would be akm to fighting a child 7d like to see you y 1scalf at him is this what you do during your spare time? Kidnap helpless defenseless woman?

Does it make you feel more like a man drugging a woman into unconsciousness “Shut up” be shouts at me, his face contorting into something ugly He approaches me His steps and movement menacing. Like a tiger that was about to pounce on its prey “Or what?” “What the hell are you doing? Stop in Emma whisper yells, her voice fearful “Stop taunting him 1 ignore her and smirk Looking directly at the huge man “They should cut off your dick. Any man that drugs two women is nothing but a pussy and isn’t worthy of being called a man +15 BONUS To be honest, I don’t even know why I was pushing his buttons I didn’t want to feel helpless, so this was sort of a defense mechanism.

I don’t see his hand move, but when he strikes I fell it all the way to my bones. I say this again, being hit by a man fucking hurts.

My vision blurs and for a while there is ringing in my ears. My mouth fills with blood, probably from biting my tongue.

When things right themselves, I look at him before spitting the blood on his shoes. He literally growls and lifts his hand about to hit me again. A deep and rich voice interrupts before he can. novelbin “What the hell is going on here?” “Sorry boss, she got on my fucking nerves” the big guy says.

The man who he called boss walks to us until he becomes clear. He had tattoos, but he was gorgeous. Bright green eyes. Midnight black hair, high cheek bones, a jaw line to die for and the fullest lips you will ever see on a man. (5)

He oozed confidence and power. The guy could give Rowan a run for his money and that’s saying a lot because Rowan was damn good looking and has confidence the size of the universe.

I turn to Emma to find her gawking at the guy in awe. I guess I wasn’t the only one who was struck by his looks.

“I don’t care what she did, you’re not supposed to lay a fucking hand on any of them!” The only way I can describe the sound coming out his mouth is to call it a snarl. His eyes turn cold and a certain danger fills the atmosphere. The kind that gives you chills down your spine.

The spell I was under breaks and I shake my head to clear the remaining cobwebs. Was the damn guy a kind of siren or something?

“Who the hell are you and what do you want with us?” I ask, making both men look at us.

The tattoo guy gives me a blinding smile.

“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ronny” He starts. “As for why you’re here it’s simple really, I want revenge against your ex–husband” My heart starts beating wildly against my heart, but I don’t say a thing. I remain quiet as he continues to talk.